Tag Archives: semmes al

Shear Sharpening in Mobile AL

Another pair of Joewell Shears arrived in the shop today – brought in by a hairdresser in Semmes AL. This is the second set of shears brought in by this hairdresser and I was certainly happy to hear her say she was very happy with my previous work.

I normally write blog post as a way of passing on information to my customers about the work I performed on their cutting instruments and this post will serve the same purpose but if you are interested in Joewell Shears or the sharpening requirements for them, you may want to read this post.

Joewell makes fine shears. They have shears from around $100 up to hundreds of dollars. One feature I appreciate about Joewell Shears is probably unseen by the majority of people but is an indication of the craftsmanship built in to Joewell Shears. That feature is a fluted screw that pairs the blades at the pivot. Although I have never found much information on the production of these shears, I feel quite sure the fluted screw is intended to expand the screw end thereby preventing the screw from backing out and causing the shears to become misaligned. This is the normal use of a fluted screw and Joewell probably is not going to go around telling everyone how to make a quality shear. That’s probably why there is little information available on their production techniques.

As with all things mechanical, wear and tear take their toll. The primary reason this particular set of shears was not cutting well was that the screw had indeed backed out just a bit and the shear blades were out of alignment. They were not as close as they should be.

Belinda, I cleaned adjusted your shears and spread the flute a bit to fix the blade alignment. After alignment, the shears needed only a clean up on the edges with a stone. After completing the sharpening I used the same method most factories use for testing sharpness of shears – cutting hanging plastic wrap and wet tissue. Your shears cut perfectly. Unfortunately the plastic wrap does not photograph well so I included only the wet tissue test photo. Would you please leave a review of my work HERE so others may gain confidence in my work. A review at Google+ would help me out too. That link is HERE. And, as usual, if you are not happy for any reason I will be glad to make it right.

Machete Sharpening Service
Mobile Alabama

Machete Sharpening in Mobile Alabama

A machete is a remarkable tool when used as intended and sharpened for its intended use. The problem most people have with machetes is trying to use them as a multi-purpose cutting blade. They can certainly be used for cutting grass, non-wood vegetation, wood vegetation and branches but each of these uses requires a certain cutting edge angle in order to get optimum performance. If you think about it, it is unrealistic to think any blade used to cut a tree branch will be immediately able to cut blades of grass cleanly. It just is not going to happen. Some professionals that use machetes in their trade will sharpen different lengths of the machete blade at different angles so it will perform a particular function very well when used along the length sharpened for that use. Homeowners do not need to go to this much trouble.

Just decide what your primary use is going to be. Seldom do homeowners use a machete for cutting grass unless they encounter some grass type weeds such as nutsedge or yellow nutgrass. If you do encounter a tough grass like these, I might suggest you borrow or buy a weed cutter sling blade or a grass whip. If you are in the Semmes Alabama, Wilmer AL or Mobile Alabama area you can find grass whips at Ace Hardware at 7380 Moffett Road. Here is a link to their catalog page showing the Grass Whip. Give them a call at 251-645-1001 to see if they have it in stock.

If using your machete for cutting grass or non-wood vegetation, a cutting edge of 20 to 25 degrees is good.

If cutting branches and small woody limbs, put an edge of 25 to 35 degrees.

If chopping heavier materials such as larger wood limbs, an edge of 25 – 35 degrees is good also.

Mobile Alabama
Hedge Trimmer Sharpening Service

Sharpening hedge trimmers takes a little time but it gives instant gratification when you see that shiny sharp edge appear from beneath the dull crusted teeth. I was again honored by being entrusted with the sharpening of a Homelite Model UT44160 electric hedge trimmer. The trimmer was dropped off by the owner, Mr Bart H.

In addition to the sharpening services I provide, I have begun writing blog posts about various jobs. I started doing this for two reasons:

To tell my customers how much I appreciate their business and leave information that I hope will be of use to them in the use and maintenance of their tools.

It was over 100 degrees in my shop when I started sharpening this hedge trimmer so I elected to relocate to my back patio where it was only about 90 degrees or so. A quick inspection of the trimmer showed that they were in pretty good shape overall. Only one cutting edge had a small chipped edge. The lower reciprocating blade was bent downward from the top blade but only effected the cutting of the first pair of teeth on the blade which is seldom used. So, I adjusted it slightly and started sharpening.

For the benefit of of Mr Bart and any others that may want to sharpen their hedge trimmers I will give an explanation of the process and show a few pictures:

Always start with a visual inspection. If you find bent blades or teeth, they must be corrected before proceeding.

Check to make sure the trimmer actually works. Then unplug it.

Adust the reciprocating blades so that you have enough clearance for the file and a wee bit more. You can do this by prying between an upper and lower cutting edge.

Use a standard mill file which is wide enough to cover the width of the cutting edge. Do not use a smaller file as it is impossible to maintain the correct angle along the entire width of the edge with a file that does not cut the entire width of the edge.

Find the correct angle for filing. To do this place the file on the edge and make a few downward strokes using downward pressure you can feel in your forearm. If the sound you hear sounds like a screech or a handsaw cutting wood, you are not at the right angle yet. Adjust the angle of the file until the sound is a good solid steel on steel sound. When you have found the angle that makes this sound you are cutting at the right angle. All strokes made with the file should now be with more pressure – enough pressure so that you now feel it in your shoulder. Four, five or six of this strokes should do the job. Do not makes dozens of strokes with a lighter pressure unless you really just have nothing else to do and want to spend all day doing this.

Now that you have the correct angle and know the process, it’s simply a manner of getting the job done. This trimmer had a 17 inch blade with one upper and one lower cutting edge per inch – 17 on top and 17 on bottom. After you have sharpened the top 17 edges, turn the clipper over and do the 17 edges on the lower blade. Thirty-four edges in all took me one hour and 15 minutes but I stopped a lot to drink iced tea and stand in front of the fan.

After all sharpening is done, lubricate the blades by putting one small drop of oil between each upper and lower cutting edge and one small drop in the valley between the teeth. I recommend you obtain a quart of non-detergent motor oil, 30 weight is fine, and an old pump oil can. Do not use a spray can lubricant. If you have questions as to why I recommend this oil, give me a call.

Homelite Hedge Trimmer

Original Condition

Proper File Angle

Adjusting Spacing for File Clearance

Spacing Right For Sharpening

Bottom Blade Before Sharpeing

Bottom Blade After Sharpening

Use Non-detergent Motor Oil

Old Pump Action Oil Can

Mill File

Mr Bart, thank you for your business. If you do pick up you oil and oil can, take it with you when you go to trim your hedges. Just a wee bit of oil every once in a while will make your work go faster and make your trimmer last longer. If you are in the Semmes Alabama area, you can pick up the file at Ace Hardware at 7380 Moffett Road. They have everything you need, are great people and I want to thank them for the many referrals they send every year. Their phone number is 251-645-1001.

If you are unhappy with my work, bring the clippers back and I wll correct any thing that makes you unhappy. If you need an owner’s manual, you can download it here: Homelite UT44160 Owners’ Manual Download

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,And every tongue which rises against you in judgmentYou shall condemn.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,And their righteousness is from Me,”Says the Lord.